TED演讲:我们的大问题(4)

 　　Now, when we think about changing human nature,  那么，当我们考虑改变人类本质时，

　　the first thing that comes to mind are these human modification¹ technologies 首先想到的便是那些人类改造技术

　　growth hormone² therapy, cosmetic³ surgery,  荷尔蒙生长疗法，整容手术，

　　stimulants⁴ like Ritalin, Adderall, anti-depressants, anabolic steroids, artificial hearts. 如利他林，安非他命缓释剂之类的兴奋剂，抗抑郁剂，合成代谢类固醇，人造心脏。

　　It's a pretty pathetic list.  这是一张可悲的清单。

　　They do great things for a few people who suffer from some specific condition, 这些技术极大地帮助了一部分人，这些人患有某些特定的病症。

　　but for most people, they don't really transform what it is to be human. 但对与大多数人来说，它们并不能真正改变人的本质。

　　And they also all seem a little bit 并且，它们看起来也有点

　　most people have this instinct that, well, sure,  大多数人都会本能地认为，

　　there needs to be anti-depressants for the really depressed⁵ people.  虽然抗抑郁剂对严重抑郁的人来说确实是必须的，

　　But there's a kind of queasiness⁶ that these are unnatural⁷ in some way. 但这里面总有一点让人不舒服的成分，因为在某种程度上说，这毕竟是很不自然的。

　　It's worth recalling that there are a lot of other modification technologies 值得一提的是，有许多其他的改造技术

　　and enhancement technologies that we use.  和改善技术供我们使用。

　　We have skin enhancements, clothing.  我们有改善皮肤的产品，服装。

　　As far as I can see, all of you are users of this enhancement technology in this room, so that's a great thing. 据我的观察，你们所有人都是这改善技术的使用者，所以这是个好东西。

　　Mood modifiers have been used from time immemorial --  自古以来，情绪改善剂就一直为人们所使用——

　　caffeine, alcohol, nicotine⁸, immune system enhancement, vision enhancement, anesthetics 咖啡因、酒精、尼古丁、免疫系统增强剂、视力增强品、麻醉剂。

　　we take that very much for granted,  我们通常认为这些是理所当然的，没什么稀奇，

　　but just think about how great progress that is -- like, 但想想看这是多么伟大的进步--比如，

　　having an operation before anesthetics was not fun.  不实施麻醉而进行手术可不是好玩的。

　　Contraceptives, cosmetics⁹ and brain reprogramming techniques -- that sounds ominous¹⁰, 避孕药、美容用品和大脑重新编程技术--听起来并不像什么好事。

　　but the distinction between what is a technology -- a gadget¹¹ would be the archetype -- 但技术--典型的例子就是小装置，

　　and other ways of changing and rewriting human nature is quite subtle.  以及其他改变和重塑人类本质的方法，这两者的差别很微妙。

1 modification   

n.修改，改进，缓和，减轻

参考例句：

• The law,in its present form,is unjust;it needs modification.现行的法律是不公正的，它需要修改。
• The design requires considerable modification.这个设计需要作大的修改。

2 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

3 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！

4 stimulants   

n.兴奋剂( stimulant的名词复数 )；含兴奋剂的饮料；刺激物；激励物

参考例句：

• Coffee and tea are mild stimulants. 咖啡和茶是轻度兴奋剂。
• At lower concentrations they may even be stimulants of cell division. 在浓度较低时，它们甚至能促进细胞分裂。 来自辞典例句

5 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

6 queasiness   

n.恶心

参考例句：

• This medicine will counteract the queasiness caused by the antibiotics. 这种药会抑制抗生素引起的反胃。 来自辞典例句
• Perhaps his queasiness is just a sign's coming down with bird flu. 它确定不了，也许，感觉恶心只是得了禽流感的征兆。 来自互联网

7 unnatural   

adj.不自然的；反常的

参考例句：

• Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗？
• She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。

8 nicotine   

n.(化)尼古丁，烟碱

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。

9 cosmetics   

n.化妆品

参考例句：

• We sell a wide range of cosmetics at a very reasonable price. 我们以公道的价格出售各种化妆品。
• Cosmetics do not always cover up the deficiencies of nature. 化妆品未能掩饰天生的缺陷。

10 ominous   

adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的

参考例句：

• Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
• There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。

11 gadget   

n.小巧的机械，精巧的装置，小玩意儿

参考例句：

• This gadget isn't much good.这小机械没什么用处。
• She has invented a nifty little gadget for undoing stubborn nuts and bolts.她发明了一种灵巧的小工具用来松开紧固的螺母和螺栓。